At the end of the day - for under 1K - you get an lens with 500mm - HSM with OS which can be hand hold - I'm not sure about other lenses in this focal range in regardless of price that you can do that - which brings to mind the real strength of this lens that I don't hear mentioned much - most will wish it will be an f/4 or sharper etc - if all those wishes comes true - then the last thing to wish for is the ability to hand hold which this lens already offer.